LOCATION TRICERA COEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Mixed, mesic Typic Torripsamments
TYPICAL PEDON: Tricera loamy fine sand - rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
A--0 to 4 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) loamy fine sand, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; weak coarse platy structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; neutral (pH 7.2); abrupt smooth boundary. (3 to 5 inches thick)
Bw1--4 to 15 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/4) loamy fine sand, dark brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; weak medium and coarse subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; mildly alkaline (pH 7.4); clear smooth boundary. (0 to 12 inches thick)
Bw2--15 to 25 inches; strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) loamy fine sand, strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) moist; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; mildly alkaline (pH 7.6); gradual smooth boundary. (10 to 15 inches thick)
C--25 to 47 inches; strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) loamy fine sand, strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) moist; massive; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; mildly alkaline (pH 7.6); clear smooth boundary. (20 to 35 inches thick)
Ck--47 to 60 inches; light brown (7.5YR 6/4) fine sand, brown (7.5YR 5/4) moist; single grain; loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; slightly effervescent, few fine seams of visible calcium carbonate; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2).
TYPE LOCATION: Moffat County, Colorado; about 2 miles southwest of Dinosaur, Colorado; about 2,500 feet south and 1,900 feet west of the northeast corner of Sec. 14, T. 3 N., R. 104 W. Longitude: 109 degrees, 1 minute, 59 seconds west; Latitude: 40 degrees, 13 minutes, 49 seconds north.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Mean annual soil temperature ranges from 47 to 50 degrees F. Lithic contact is at a depth of 40 inches or more. Secondary calcium carbonate is at a depth of 40 inches or more. The Bw horizons are absent in some pedons. The moisture control section may be moist in a minor upper part for 10 to 20 consecutive days during April through June and in October, but is dry the remainder of the time.
The A horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 3 or 4. Reaction is neutral or mildly alkaline.
The Bw horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 4 through 6. It is loamy fine sand or loamy sand.
The C horizon has a hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 6 or 7 dry, 5 or 6 moist, and chroma of 3 through 6. It is loamy fine sand, fine sand, or sand.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Als (OR), Ecklund (CO), Hawsley (NV), Isolde (NV), Kawich (NV), Kewake (OR), Razito (NM), Sheppard (UT), Stumble (NV), Sundown (NV), Tipper (WY), Tipperary (WY), and Yenrab (UT) series. All of these series except Isolde are calcareous above a depth of 40 inches. Isolde soils have a mean annual soil temperature of 52 to 57 degrees F. and have a mean annual precipitation of 4 to 7 inches. Ecklund soils have a lithic contact at depths of 20 to 40 inches. Hawsley soils have mean annual soil temperatures that range from 53 to 57 degrees F., Kewake soils have 15 to 25 percent pumice throughout the control section and have calcium carbonate throughout the profile.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Tricera soils are on hillslopes and knolls. Slopes range from 3 to 15 percent. The soil formed in eolian sands and alluvium derived from sandstone. Elevation ranges from 5,700 to 6,600 feet. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 9 to 11 inches. Mean annual temperature ranges from 45 to 48 degrees F. The frost-free period is about 90 to 105 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Chipeta, Deaver, Massadona, and Wallson soils. The Wallson soils are in a coarse-loamy family and have an argillic horizon. Chipeta, Deaver and Massadona soils are in a fine family.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Excessively drained; slow runoff; rapid permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation consists of needleandthread, Indian ricegrass, streambank wheatgrass, bottlebrush squirreltail, sand dropseed, and Wyoming big sagebrush.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Tricera soils occur in northwestern Colorado. The series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Moffat County, (Moffat County Area), Colorado, 1992.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizon recognized in this pedon is the ochric epipedon - the zone from 0 to 4 inches. The Bw horizon is horizon designation only. Last updated by the state 2/93.